26 ERYTHEA. 



from 1811 till about 1842? Malva rotundifolia grows along 

 with it, and Calendula officinalis occurs by the roadside near 

 cottages, having escaped from their gay little gardens. — 

 J. Burtt Davy. 



Lily Bulbs and Flowers as Food. — One may frequently 

 see in the provision- dealers' stores in Chinatown, San Fran- 

 cisco, large baskets of yellowish-white lily bulbs, offered for 

 sale. Enquiry elicits the information, that these bulbs are 

 eaten as a vegetable by the Chinese, after being lightly 

 boiled. Several attempts to grow them in the Botanic 

 Garden of the University of California, have failed, probably 

 from lack of moisture. In March last, however, I obtained 

 two good-sized bulbs in Chinatown, and planted them in the 

 light soil of a shaded rockery, subject to daily watering. 

 A plant grown from these bulbs flowered on August 21st, 

 and proved to be the variety Brownii of Lilium Japonicum. 



The bulb of Lilium cordifolium, known as Kiu, is made 

 into cakes and eaten by the Ainus of Japan. The Japanese 

 use the extracted starch in confectionery. 



Mr. Inazo Nitobe reports, that in Japan there never is a 

 well-chosen menu, which does not include lily-bulbs among 

 its dainties. He adds that L. Tigrinum and L. concolor var 

 pulchellum are most frequently used, with L. Glehni oc- 

 casionally. 



The dried blossoms of Hemerocallis graminea and Lilium 

 bulbiferum are used in China to an enormous extent for flav- 

 oring soups, and as a vegetable. — J. Burtt Davy. 



Notes on Introduced Weeds: — The St. Barnabas 

 Thistle, Centaurea solstitialis, L., has found its way into 

 Alameda Co., Calif. On Oct. 9th last I found a number of lux- 

 uriant specimens surrounding a garden, which fronts on Moss 

 Avenue, between Piedmont and Temescal, near the Fabiola 

 Hospital. 



The Dandelion, Taraxacum officinale Weber, is growing 

 plentifully by the roadside near the Requa residence, High- 

 land Avenue, Piedmont, and also on 14th Street, Oakland.— J. 

 Burtt Davy. 



